Marco Rubio Drinks Water During GOP State Of The Union Rebuttal (VIDEO) (GIF)

As the up-and-coming senator attempted to counter the president's message, he appeared to grow increasingly uncomfortable, wiping his mouth and licking his lips on a number of occasions. Apparently unable to wait until the end of his address to satiate his thirst, Rubio reached for his small bottle of Poland Spring water mid-speech.

Perhaps aware that his action had set off an immediate and largely unkind reaction, Rubio quickly attempted to get ahead of the story on Twitter.